Diablo 4: Your Guide to the Barbarian Arsenal

Each class in Diablo 4 comes with its own unique mechanics that shape gameplay and allow players to fully immerse themselves in the class’s fantasy. For Barbarians, masters of weaponry, this defining feature is the Arsenal system.

Unlike other classes that can only equip up to two weapons, Barbarians stand out by being able to wield four: two one-handed weapons and two two-handed weapons. This is further enhanced by the Expertise system, which boosts your proficiency with specific weapon types the more you use them.

How to Unlock the Barbarian Arsenal Feature

The Barbarian’s Arsenal is one of the easiest class mechanics to unlock in Diablo 4, as there’s no lengthy quest involved. All you need to do is reach Level 5. Once there, the Expertise system automatically becomes available on the Character/Inventory screen, and all four weapon slots unlock for use.

As you switch between weapons during combat, your Expertise with each one grows. Instead of relying on enemy kills, expertise is gained by simply landing hits with your chosen weapon. Over time, as you gain more experience with a specific weapon type, you’ll unlock new bonuses that increase in strength.

Weapons can be assigned to specific abilities through the Skill Assignment menu. This allows you to combine your Expertise bonuses with abilities for powerful synergies. For example, if you want to trigger more Lucky Hits, you could assign a Polearm to an ability, as its Expertise bonus increases Lucky Hit chance.

At Level 15, a Technique slot unlocks through a short quest. This feature lets you apply one Expertise bonus to all your weapons, regardless of which one is equipped. For instance, if your build focuses on causing the Vulnerable effect, you can assign the 2H Axe bonus in the Technique slot for consistent bonuses.

Barbarian Arsenal Overview: Weapons, Expertise, and Bonuses

Barbarians can equip seven weapon types across their four slots, including three 1H weapons (which have double effectiveness when dual-wielded) and four 2H weapons. Each weapon type comes with a unique Expertise bonus that grows in power as you gain experience with it, capping at Rank 10.

At Rank 10, you unlock an additional bonus for each weapon type. Barbarians can equip both 1H and 2H weapons, but only the weapons actively used in combat will gain Expertise experience. Those not in use still offer passive stat boosts.

Weapon Types and Expertise Bonuses

Though the Diablo 4 classes have seen significant updates since the game's launch—particularly with the Vessel of Hatred DLC—the core of the Barbarian's Arsenal system remains the same. However, if you haven’t followed the recent updates, it’s important to review the new stats and bonuses to make sure you’re up to speed with the latest version in Season 6.

The Barbarian's Arsenal is a powerful tool that allows players to customize their combat style and gain passive bonuses that enhance their performance on the battlefield. By mastering different weapon types and taking advantage of synergies with abilities, Barbarians can create devastating builds that maximize their potential in every fight.